Montgomery Ballet is bringing 'Carmen' home

The Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in its new black box theater on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. "Carmen" will open on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10, at 7:30 p.m.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Production on Friday and Saturday kicks off company's new black box theater at their studio in Montgomery

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Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility. (Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)Buy Photo

“When we first came up with the idea, I was a little concerned because of how it changes our space from a more wider space to more narrow and deep, which is an adjustment for the dancers to have to get used to,” said Patrick VanBuren, artistic director for the company, who dances the role of Escamillo. "Luckily, since it’s is an in studio production, we’ve had time to adjust appropriately, and I think it’s coming off a lot smoother than we’ve anticipated."

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Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.(Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

The initial thought to create their own theater space came from Danny Mitsios, executive director and ballet master, who dances the role of Don José. He recalled dancing for H.T. Chen in New York, where they have a similar black box theater.

“My thought was, if H.T can do this, get 100 people in his small black box, give his dancers more performance opportunity because of reduced costs, why can’t we?” said Mitsios.

One key advantage of this kind of intimate space is that the audience and dancers can connect with one another more easily.

“There's a different kind of feel when you perform and people are sitting right there, and I like that," said Rania Charalambidou, school director and ballet mistress, who dances the title character of Carmen. "Sometimes it’s good to see and feel and connect with people in such close proximity.”

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Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.(Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

"It’s amazing for us, because If they gasp, we feel it. We see it,” said Mitsios.

"You can hear the breathing,” said VanBuren. "There’s no hiding anything in this space, really. What happens, happens. it’s true for the audience as well as the dancers."

Charalambidou said the black box theater is also exciting for the kids in class there. "They feel, oh a show is coming up,” she said. "It brings a different side and a different energy out of the kids."

Montgomery Ballet’s black box theater can seat up to 120. Mitsios said the theater opens up other opportunities for Montgomery Ballet as well, including the ability to rent the space out to emerging artists for very low cost.

"We even have a state of the art light board that’s like for concerts and Disney World. It’s incredible,” said Mitsios. "I was like, we have everything here. All we have to do is plug it together, which takes effort. It takes time, but we have it.”

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Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility. (Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

The addition of this black box theater doesn’t mean fewer performance at other venues like Davis Theatre or the Montgomery Zoo. "Our plan is to increase our show opportunities,” said Mitsios. "We’re still going to have ‘Nutcracker’ in the Davis. We’re still going to do ‘Ballet and the Beasts.’ That’s not going to go away."

In fact, they’ve got plans in motion for a performance in May at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. "The weekend of Mother’s Day, we’re going to do ‘Napoli’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at ASF,” said Mitsios. However, those tickets are not on sale yet.

About “Carmen"

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Danny Mitsios as Don José and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

The courtyard outside the Montgomery Ballet studio will be part of the atmosphere for "Carmen" as they open their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Carl Backman as Zuniga. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen, with Carl Backman looking on from above. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Samantha Ayala Amaya as Fate and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Samantha Ayala Amaya, right, dances with Patrick VanBuren. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.
Shannon Heupel/Advertiser

It can’t be said that it’s a happy ending with “Carmen," but you’re likely to know and love the music along the way.

"It was originally an opera,” said VanBuren. "There are certain pieces of music that are just iconic.”

Written by French composer Georges Bizet, the opera premiered in 1875, and was based on a novella from 1845 by Prosper Mérimée. Songs from it that most people recognize today include “Habanrea” and “Toreador Song.”

“(Carmen) was a gypsy, and she got arrested,” said VanBuren. "The first scene is her pretty much seducing one of the lieutenants to get out of jail.”

That lieutenant is Don José. When she gets out, he gets in trouble with Capt. Zuniga, danced by Carl Backman, and gets fired.

"That's why I'm the only dancer with a costume change," said Mitsios.

Zuniga also tries his hand at winning Carmen, but gets rejected.

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Samantha Ayala Amaya, right, dances with Patrick VanBuren. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility. (Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

“She’s still playing hard to get, but she ends up liking Don José a little bit,” said VanBuren. "She didn’t expect that to happen."

VanBuren said the situation turns into a kind of “love square.” It turns out that Carmen actually already has a husband.

"That’s played by me,” said VanBuren. "Escamillo is the toreador, the bull fighter. He likes her, but she’s just another gypsy."

A fortune teller who goes by the name of Fate, danced by Samantha Ayala Amaya, predicts Carmen’s death by Don José’s hand. "Pretty much the rest of the ballet is that coming to fruition,” said VanBuren.

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The courtyard outside the Montgomery Ballet studio will be part of the atmosphere for "Carmen" as they open their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.(Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

Along with the black box theater, the building also has a courtyard that they plan to incorporate into “Carmen.”

“The reason we chose ‘Carmen’ is the small cast, and we’ve always looked at this like a Spanish courtyard,” said Mitsios. "We’re like, how fitting for us to do our first production here and merge the whole atmosphere together.”

Carmen is a kid friendly ballet. "There’s nothing in it that I would say is inappropriate for children,” said Mitsios. "But it’s not your ‘Nutcracker,’ and with that in mind it’s an excellent performance to come to pre-Valentine’s Day."

Tickets for “Carmen”

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Patrick VanBuren as Escamillo the toreador and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility. (Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

Charalambidou urged guests to call the Montgomery Ballet office and make a reservation, because seating is limited. Contact them at 334-409-0522 or by email at info@montgomeryballet.org. Regular ticket price is $12, and military get a discount price of $10.

"Put you name down and how many tickets you want,” said Charalambidou. "You can pay at the door, or stop by with a credit card.”

The house will open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Seating is general admission, so arrive early. "It’s first come, first served,” said Mitsios. "Every seat’s a good seat. You’re literally within 10 to 20 feet from the dancers."

"Depending on how our turnout is for this weekend, if we have people who turn out but can’t get a seat, we may do a second weekend the following weekend,” said VanBuren.

"We will do what our patrons want, and we can do that because this is our home,” said Mitsios.

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Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility. (Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)

Pas De Deux workshop

Montgomery Ballet have a Pas De Deux/partnering workshop set for Feb. 18. “That one’s really interesting, because since we are a ballet company we have three gentlemen,” said Mitsios.

The cost is $50 per student. The workshop is for intermediate to advanced ballet students.

"It’s a great opportunity for advanced teenage girls that are experienced on pointe to come experience something like this because they don’t get to unless they go off to summer intensives,” said Charalambidou.

That day, they will have a ballet class from 4-5:15 p.m., and the Pas De Deux class from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Mitsios said students from anywhere in the community that have intermediate to advanced pointe work can come. "This is not exclusive to Montgomery Ballet school,” said Mitsios. "It’s our way of trying to provide something that is lacking.”

For more information, call 334-409-0522 or write to info@montgomeryballet.org.

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Danny Mitsios as Don José  and Rania Charalambidou as Carmen. Montgomery Ballet rehearses for "Carmen" in their new black box theater at their studio, 2101 Eastern Blvd., Suite 223. Friday and Saturday's production will be the first in their facility.(Photo: Shannon Heupel/Advertiser)